Combination leg brace and caster-support bracket



Patented May 18, 1926.

A 1,585,312" barren stares rarest oFFics- WILLIAM H. NOELTING, or EvAnsvrLLn, INDIANA, ASSIGNOB, T0 rAtILrLnss CASTER COMPANY, or nvansvrnrin, fantasia, A conronar'ron.

Application filed. May 2'2, 1925. Serial No. 32,050.

This invention relates to a unitary and preferably integral combination leg brace and caster bracket support for simultaneously securing a caster to a leg and securing a brace to the leg.

The chief object of the invention as heretofore indicated, is to provide a combination unitary and wherever applicable, an integral leg brace support and caster bracket support for simultaneosuly anchoring a brace or plurality thereof to the leg supporting the combination bracket, and simultaneously securing to the leg in permanent or detachable relationship as desired, but preferably the latter, a caster of any suitable type.

The chief feature of the inventionconsists in the formation from a single piece of sheet metal a tubular socket having a.sin-' gle longitudinal parting, and wing means extending therefrom for anchorage purposes upon the leg and bending an extension, said sheet metal to provide a. support for securing a brace to the leg.

A minor feature of the invention consists in the formation of the brace supporting portion as an extension of the cap or closure portion of the tubular portion.

Another minor feature of the invention consists in the formation in certain forms of the invention of the brace supporting portion such that it lies in a plane transverse to the axis of the tubular socket.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from the accompanying drawlugs and the following description and claims g In the drawings Fig. l is a perspective view of a leg, brace means associated therewith, a caster therefor and the combination unitary bracket associating the brace means, caster and leg together. Fig. 2 is a front view of the combination bracket. Fig. 8 is a central sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2 and in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 4 is a side view of the bracket shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Fig. 5 is a side view of the bracket and a central sectional view of a portion of the leg together with the brace, the bracket being a modified form. Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 and of another modified form. Fig. 7 is a front View of a fur ther modified form of combination bracket. Fig. 8 is a front view of still a further form combination bracket. Fig. 9 is a similar cut away as at 15 to form a groove.

view of still a further form of combination bracket. Fig. 10 is acentral sectional View of a modified form of the combination unitary bracket and is similar to Fig. 3.' Fig. 11 is a central section through a modified form of bracket and a brace and leg.

In the drawings 10 indicates generally a leg, having the sides 1.1 integral therewith, the top portion 12 by which the leg is, secured to the main body portion of the article to be supported, such as a washing machine, stove or the like, and a base portion 13 join-. ingthe two sides 11 at the bottom. The base portion 13 is herein shown provided with a cut away portion 141 which in turn is further tending through the cutout portion or open- 17 in turn rotatably supporting a wheel 18 which is of the usual caster construction or may be of any preferred type as desired. The stem 16 is elongated and extends upwardly intothe leg and is permanently or, preferably, detachably supported by theleg through the medium of a unitary construction which is the main portion of the invention. Extending toward the leg, and herein a plurality are illustrated," are the. brace rods or stay members 19 having apertured ends and associated with which is a suitable securing means 20 in the form of a rivet or bolt and nut construction. This brace means is adapted to maintain the lower end of the leg in rigid relationship with respect to the lower ends of the other legs.

ing15 is a caster stem 16 carried by a yoke There is thus secured a relatively rigid bottom framework even though sheet and strap metal of relatively small size and thin gage is utilized.

The combination unitary, bracket construction shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 andl consists of a single sheet of metal having its intermediate portion rolled to form a tubuar socket 21 providing the single longitudinal parting 22. Extending from said longitudinal edges defining the single longitudinal parting are the lateral wings 23. These wings 23 include suitable openings 2a which openings register with openings formed in the leg 10. Extending throughthe registering openings in the leg 10- and in the wings 23 are suitable anchoragemeans 9, such as rivets or the like. The -.-tubular' socket portion 21. is extended upwardly and over the socket as at 2'6 and forms a cap. The cap is furthermore extended as at 27 and is elon gated to form a portion 28 and a latera portion 29, which lateral portion 29 includes an opening 30 adapted to receive the securing means 20 shown in Fig. 1. T he lateral portion 29 is also shown positioned in a plane transverse to the axis of the tubular socket. in this form of the invention the straps 19 are auapted to lie in superposed relation 'ith respect to the lateral portion 29 and be anchored thereto and to the leg through the wing portions of the combination bracket.

In 10 a modified form of the invention is illustrated and in this form of the invention a. separate tubular socket, having the tubular body portion 1021, closure or cap portion 1026 and the bottom portion or base 1010 is wedgingly or frictionally receivable by the tubular socket 21 of the combination bracket construction, said bracket construction having the wings 23, the extension 28 and brace support 29 as shown in the preceding Figures 1 to 4: inclusive. The in vention, therefore, contemplates the use of a tubular socket, preferably headed or closed to form a top hearing if desired, and either provided with a single longitudinal opening or with an insert. The insert may not be provided with the head 1026 and in this event said tubular socket will constitute a sleeve shown by the dash lines 1000 that may or may not be split but if split the split portion preferably will not register but will be offset from the split 22 of the bracket socket. All of the foregoing suggested forms of the invention it will be apparent, are clearly within the scope of the foregoing basic disclosure.

In Fig. 5 there is illustrated a modified form of the invention, and in this form of the invention the wing portions 123, body portion 121, head portion 120, are substantially identical to that heretofore described for the, construction shown in Figs. 1 to 4- inc-lusive. In this form of the invention, however, the extension 127 from the top or cap forming portion does not extend into'the plane of the wings but terminates short thereof, and the portion 128 lies in a plane parallel to said wings. Thus, when the bracket is secured to the leg there is provided a space between the bracket and the leg, and seated within said space is an angularly bent end 119 of a brace 19. The extension 128 includes an opening 130 and the leg and angular end 119 also include registering openings. Thus, a single means is adapted to anchor the extension 128 and the angular end 119 to the leg.

It will be apparent from the foregoing, therefore. that the wings 123 may be offset and extended to form a pair of anchorages for a pair of braces without departing from the broader feature of the invention. F urlower ed 'es of the win s mav be formed with lateral edges and when thus formed the brace means may be secured to these e1.

tensions and in this event the bottom 13 Wlll o u u A be provided with openings so that the brace means will be securely anchored simultane ously to the leg andv to the combination bracket.

in Fig. 6 there is illustrated a modified "orm of the invention, and in this form of he invention the combination bracket is hown having the wings 223, tubular body portion 221, cap portion 226, ok ension upwardly extending extension and the lateral extension 229. As shown in this form of the invention, not only the extension 228 spaced from the leg 10, as shown in Fig. 5, for aconsiderable portion of its length, but there is also provided the lateral portion 229, and in this form of the invention the brace is provided with the angular end 11.9.

In Fig. 7 there is illustrated another modified form of the invention in which the wings 323, tubular portion 321, head portion 326 are all substantially identical with those previously described. In this form of the invention, however, the upwardly extending extension 328 is of greater width than the diameter of the socket which is the form disclosed in Fig. 2. Likewise, the lateral or:- tension 329 is of a width equal to the width of the extension 328.

In Fig. 8 the bracket including the wings 423, socket 121 and head portion includes an upwardly extending extension that includes inclined edges and has a base equal in width to the full width of tie bracket and a top equal in width to the diameter of the socket so that the lateral evtension 129 is of substantially the same width of that shown in Fig. 2.

In Fig. 9 the socket is very similar to that disclosed in Fig. 8 and includes the wings 523, the tubular body portion 521, the head portion 526, the upwardly extending extension 528 and the lateral extension 529. In this form of the invention instead of inclined ..'des, the upwardly extending extension 528 is substantially rectangular except the upper corners are rounded.

In Fig. 11 a modified form of bracket is illustrated. In this form the bracket has a rounded head 1126 and an upturned extension 1128 connected thereto at 1127. In this arrangement the leg 10 lies immediately ad- When it is jacent extension 1128 against which lies end 119 of strap 19. The portions 10, 1128 and 119 are secured together as at 1129.

The invention claimed is:

1. A combination bracket including asingle sheet of metal providing a tubular caster stem receiving body with a single longitudinal parting, wing means extending from said parting for bracket anchorage, and an extension closing one end of the bot y and continuing upwardly beyond the body and in line with the parting for support purposes other than caster stein retainment or bracket anchorage.

2. A combination bracket including a sin gle sheet oi metal providing a tubular caster stein receiving body with a single longitudinal parting, wing means extending from said parting for bracket anchorage, and a portion extending substantially transversely of the tubular axis for closing one end of the body and integral with the body and continued above the same in line with the parting for support purposes other than caster stem retainment or bracket anchorage.

3. A combination bracket including a single sheet of metal providing a tubular caster stem receiving body with a single longitudinal parting, wing means extending from said parting for bracket anchorage, an extension integral with the body and closing the same, and an upward extension from the body closure extension and in line with the parting and including an offset portion adjacent its connection to the body closure extension.

4. A combination caster bracket support including a single sheet of metal providing a tubular body with a single longitudinal parting, wing means extending from said parting for anchorage purposes, an upward extension integral with the construction and including an offset portion adjacent its con nection to the combination construction, and a lateral extension substantially transverse to the tubular axis for brace suporting purposes.

5. A combination bracket including a single sheet of metal providing a tubular caster stem receiving body with a single longitudinal parting, wing means extending from said parting for bracket anchorage, a cap forming portion integral with the tubular body, and an extension of the cap portion extending beyond the same and the body suitable for support purposes other than caster stem retainment or bracket anchorage.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto affixed my signature.

WVILLIAM H. NOELTING. 

